The BSC Legacy - Book 3: When Numbers Really Count
By: CNJ
PG-13
17: Ski Trip
Abby:
"Commence of a new semester!" Kristy sang, leaping a little ahead of Mona and me as we walked down the hall after lunch that late January toward our next class. "Our third-to-last semester of school of hiiigh!"
We chuckled. Kristy was in high spirits today and in a way, it was good. We've gotten some snow this month, but this week has been kind of rainy and things have dulled down.
We've gotten through semester exams, had a long weekend, then just started the second semester of our junior year. We're still a little amazed that it's the year 2000, but we're getting used to it.
As I got to my next class and sat, I looked around and felt good about how much lighter and more relaxed everything seems at Stoneybrook High since the In clique was weakened. And to think that it started with career day last September.
Now kids aren't so divided anymore. The In crowd kids still were around and still sometimes ridiculed others, but now they knew that the other kids could stand up to them and no longer were a menace that they seemed last year.
"Think we'll get another snow soon?" Caitlin sat next to me with a grin.
"Hope so," I nodded.
"I'm headed out skiing two weeks from this weekend with a couple of friends," Caitlin rummaged through her bag, then her purse and pulled out two gel pens and a notebook.
"My friends and I might go in February if we have enough cash in our BSC dues," I added.
Caitlin's athletic too, so we talked a little about skiing and basketball until our teacher started class.
Mary Anne:
We'd pooled up enough money from the BSC's dues to take a ski trip on the second Saturday in February. We haven't gone in a long time, maybe since eighth grade and that was with Watson and Kristy's mom.
This time, we went for one day. The place is just an hour away from Stoneybrook past Bridgeport.
Claud's folks let her use their car as well as Kristy's mom with hers, so we just drove on up and had a blast.
Back in Stoneybrook, we'd just gotten a few light snowfalls, but up here in northern Connecticut, there was a lot more snow.
I thought I'd be out of shape and would tire fast, since I'm not athletic, but I was able to keep up. Kristy and Abby were the two fastest, especially Kristy.
Mona and I stopped at one point to get hot chocolate and at one point saw Kristy zoom past the lodge window.
"Hiii!" she bellowed and we laughed.
"She can ski like lightening," Mona said.
I noticed that since the In clique was weakened, my friends and I are more relaxed, more at ease and we can concentrate on other things.
I myself was finishing an article for the Beacon that I'd hand in on Monday, a light, funny article on snow. Maybe I'd add something on ski trips and the relaxing effects it has on people.
I love snow; it's so beautiful, especially in the late afternoon sunlight.
Mona:
"...so Ron asked when he'd see me and I told him I go to Stoneybrook High and since he goes to Earhart, we could meet at Aster and Dusker's or something," Kristy went on as we headed home toward the end of the day. "So, it was all right with him. Bizarre meeting someone from Earhart High at the ski place."
We all chuckled. I sensed Kristy was feeling something for this Ron Hayes and I wondered if it would develop into something serious.
It's odd because it reminded me of a guy I'd dated way back in seventh grade when I was at Wakeman Middle, a Matt Zeboski. I was sure I'd had a crush back then, but in eighth grade, it kind of faded out and we drifted our separate ways.
I haven't felt that way about a guy since. I also know Claud and Stacey have both dated a couple of guys each since starting high school.
I found my mind drifting back to my first two years of high school when I was at Burkeview. It seemed like almost every girl had a boyfriend or was crushing on a guy except me at first.
But then I sort of had this girl in my mind, a senior when I was a sophomore. She was Anne McConner and I'd found myself thinking about her a lot that year. Of course, I'd never told anyone.
For some reason, her face was one of those you don't forget. Dark, dark hair, big brown eyes and a rather olive complexion, but not quite dark. And she was one of the nicest seniors too.
I remembered that she'd stood up for a girl who was harassed by the BIG clique that had dominated Burkeview then. When she graduated at the end of last year, she'd cried and I'd reached out and hugged her tight, feeling a rush of tenderness toward her.
Oh, Mona, good luck and don't let the BIG clique every tear you down, she'd whispered in sobs.
I won't, I'd promised and wished her good luck at Boulder U. where she was headed.
Even now it's hard to describe what went on between us, but it felt special. I wasn't ready to tell even my friends yet, so I listened to the others chat and occasionally chimed in something.
By then Kristy had moved on from Ron and they were onto various food at various restaurants.